Position:Home>General - Arts & Humanities > What does it mean that african art is descrptive and historical not normative an
Question:
What does it mean that african art is descrptive and historical not normative and intellectually interpretive?
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
you need to have good definitions of your terms.
descriptive -- in this case probably refers to being grounded in observation or experience.
historical -- means defined by, concerned with history or traditions
normative -- means conforming to standards or specific ways of doing things
interprative -- in this case probably refers to a particular way of doing things or creating art -- method, style, adaptation etc
So -- African art is more concerned with life and experience -- it is probably meant to explain or teach or symbolize something or to document a story or happening etc
which is opposed to the "western" ideal of art that is proscribed and set out into rules and ways of doing things. Art may tell a story, but it is created according to (generally) rigid rules and styles.
Does that make sense?
Sometimes the best place to start is to define your terms -- especially how they apply to the subject.